Component retention mechanism

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for retaining a component within a base structure is provided. The component retention mechanism, in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, has a bolt receiver mounted to a base structure into which the component to be installed mounts. The base structure can be, e.g., a computer hardware rack structure. A spring casing mounts to the component to be installed. A spring having a first end and a second end mounts within the spring casing. At least one bolt extends from one of the first and second ends of the spring, such that the bolt engages with the bolt receiver to retain the component in the base structure as desired.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a component retention mechanism, and more particularly to a component retention mechanism for mounting and locking computer hardware components in place within a computer hardware rack structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The computer hardware rack structure is a known structure for housing commercial grade computer hardware components. These rack structures contain different apertures, cavities, slots, and corresponding mounting mechanisms for supporting and locking in place the different computer hardware components.

[0003] Where there is a demand for multiple computer components in compact areas, computer hardware rack structures often provide for slidably mounting components. Each component typically is attached to a tray, and the tray is positioned in the rack where it is able to captively slide. If a user needs to gain access to a particular component, the tray is slid out of the component rack, providing the desired access. Once the user is finished with the component, the tray is slid back into the component rack. Often threaded fasteners (such as, e.g., screws) secure the tray to the rack in a closed position.

[0004] However, the computer hardware rack structure, in some instances, may become undesirably crowded with the various computer hardware components. Thus, it is difficult to install and remove components from within the rack structure. In some cases, a user is limited to using a single hand to install or remove a component because of the configuration of the rack structure. It can be even more difficult to manage the insertion and removal of the threaded fasteners that secure the trays in place. There is, in most instances, not an option to leave the components un-fastened (i.e., not use threaded or other fasteners to secure the component in place) because during the operation of the system, shock or vibration can cause the component to unseat itself.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] There exists in the art a need for a component retention mechanism that enables a user to remove, install, and secure a component within a rack or base structure in a simple manner, without the use of difficult to manage fasteners. Aspects of the present invention embody further solutions in this art.

[0006] A component retention mechanism, in accordance with one example embodiment of the present invention, has a bolt receiver mounted to a base structure into which the component to be installed mounts. The base structure can be, e.g., a computer hardware rack structure. A spring casing mounts to the component to be installed. A spring having a first end and a second end mounts within the spring casing. At least one locking bolt extends from one of the first and second ends of the spring, such that the locking bolt engages with the bolt receiver to retain the component in the base structure as desired.

[0007] The component retention mechanism, according to one aspect of the present invention, has at least one lever extending from the spring enabling spring compression and corresponding manipulation of the locking bolt or bolts through each bolt receiver.

[0008] The component retention mechanism, according to still another aspect of the present invention, has a first locking bolt extending from the first end of the spring and a second locking bolt extending from the second end of the spring. The component retention mechanism with this configuration further includes a first lever extending from the first end of the spring and a second lever extending from the second end of the spring. The first and second levers enable spring compression.

[0009] The component retention mechanism, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention, includes the bolt receiver with a first support arm having a first ramp and a second support arm having a second ramp, the first and second ramps enabling engagement with the first and second locking bolts. The bolt receiver can include at least one support arm having a bevel tip for better receiving each of the locking bolts.

[0010] A computer hardware rack structure, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes at least one component retention mechanism for mounting and locking components in place within the rack structure. The component retention mechanism has a bolt receiver mounted to the rack structure, a spring casing mounting to the at least one component, a spring having a first end and a second end and mounted within the spring casing, and at least one locking bolt extending from one of the first and second ends of the spring. The locking bolt engages with the bolt receiver to retain the component in the rack structure.

[0011] A method of mounting a component in a base structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes the steps of pinching at least one lever in a spring casing to compress at least one spring and retract at least one bolt. The method further includes placing the component having the spring casing mounted thereto into the base structure. The method concludes with releasing the at least one lever in the spring casing to expand the spring and extend the at least one locking bolt to engage with a bolt receiver, locking the component in place.

[0012] The method can further include a pinching step wherein the step comprises pinching two levers to compress two springs and retract two locking bolts. The method continues with the releasing step comprising releasing the two levers to expand the two springs and extend the two locking bolts to engage with the bolt receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The aforementioned features and advantages, and other features and aspects of the present invention, will become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a component retention mechanism including a component according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective illustration of a bolt receiver according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3A is a perspective illustration of a spring casing according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0017]FIG. 3B is a cross-section A-A of the spring casing of FIG. 3A;

[0018]FIG. 4A is a perspective illustration of a spring according to one aspect of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 4B is a perspective illustration of a spring according to another aspect of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spring of FIG. 4 mounted within the spring casing of FIG. 3 according to one aspect of the present invention; and

[0021]FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of the component retention mechanism mounted to a computer hardware rack structure according to one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The present invention generally relates to a component retention mechanism for mounting and locking a computer hardware component within a computer hardware rack structure. Elements of the component retention mechanism include a bolt receiver mounted to the computer hardware rack structure, a spring casing mounted to the component being installed in the rack structure, a spring slidably mounted within the spring casing, and at least one locking bolt extending from one end of the spring, such that the locking bolt engages with the bolt receiver to retain the component in the base structure as desired. At least one lever extending from the spring enables the compression of the spring to retract the locking bolt from the bolt receiver as desired. Upon removal of the compression forces, the spring returns to a steady-state form with the locking bolt once again extended. The lever is operable by a single hand of a user, if necessary, or alternatively a separate lever activating device. The bolt receiver further includes at least one beveled tip for receiving each of the locking bolts in a manner not requiring compression of the spring by the levers.

[0023] FIGS. 1-6, wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout, illustrate an example embodiment of component retention mechanism according to the present invention. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the example embodiments illustrated in the figures, it should be understood that many alternative forms can embody the present invention. One of ordinary skill in the art will additionally appreciate different ways to alter the parameters of the embodiments disclosed, such as the size, shape, or type of elements or materials, in a manner still in keeping with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0024]FIG. 1 illustrates a retention mechanism 10, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention. A bolt receiver 12 receives a subassembly of spring casing 14 having a spring 16 slidably mounted therein. The spring casing 14 further retains a component 18 that is to be mounted. A number of different materials such as, e.g., metal, wood, plastic, composite, and the like, can form the retention mechanism 10. The material must have sufficient strength to secure the component 18 to be mounted in place. Each of these elements will now be discussed in detail below.

[0025]FIG. 2 illustrates a detailed perspective view of the bolt receiver 12. A beam 20 extends between a first arm 24 and a second arm 26. The beam 20 includes at least one fastener 22. The bolt receiver 12 illustrated has two fasteners 22. The fasteners 22 mount the bolt receiver to a base structure as illustrated in FIG. 6. The first arm 24 includes a first ramp 28, which receives a locking bolt 68 or 70 as illustrated in FIG. 4 and holds the locking bolt 68 or 70 in place, as will be further discussed below.

[0026] The first arm 24 of the bolt receiver 12 includes a first beveled tip 32 for compressing the locking bolt 68 or 70 as the locking bolt is inserted into the bolt receiver 12.

[0027] A second arm 26 includes a second ramp 30 and a second beveled tip 34. Braces 36 and 38 add structural support to each of the first arm 24 and the second arm 26, respectively, so that the bolt receiver 12 can withstand the expected forces pressing against the arms 24 and 26 during the installation of a locking bolt 68 or 70 (see FIG. 4). The bolt receiver 12 can be a shape other than the generally “C” shape illustrated, as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The bolt receiver 12 can further include more than two arms 24 and 26, and also a different combination of ramps 28 and 30, and beveled tips 32 and 34 as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The purpose of the bolt receiver 12 is to clampingly grasp each locking bolt 68 and 70 and through use of friction and the ramps 28 and 30, hold each locking bolt 68 and 70 in place until such time as the locking bolts 68 and 70 are retracted and removed.

[0028]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the spring casing 14. The spring casing 14 includes a spring chamber 40 for housing the spring 16 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). A ledge 42 encompassing each side of the spring chamber 40, forms the walls of the spring chamber 40. A backing 44 forms the bottom, or backside, of the spring chamber 40. A first bolt slot 46 and a second bolt slot 48 are provided in distal walls of the spring chamber 40, and enable one or more locking bolts 68 or 70 to slide therethrough. The bolt slots 46 and 48 can be of a number of different shapes, so long as they correspond to the particular shaped locking bolt 68 and 70 sliding therethrough.

[0029] The spring casing further includes a first arm 50 and a second arm 52 for mounting the component 18 to the spring casing 14. The first arm 50 and the second arm 52 each include a corresponding ledge 54 and 56, and a beveled tip 58 and 60. The ledge 54 and 56 and the beveled tip 58 and 60 act in a similar manner to the ramp 28 and 30 and beveled tip 32 and 34 of the bolt receiver 12 in mounting and locking the component therein.

[0030]FIGS. 4A and 4B depict a perspective view of the spring 16. The spring includes a mounting block 62 by which the spring mounts to the spring casing 14. The method of mounting can include riveting, heat staking, gluing, welding, and the like. A first spring section 64 extends in one direction from the mounting block, while a second spring section 66 extends in an opposite direction from the mounting block 62. The first locking bolt 68 is integral with the first spring section 64. The second locking bolt 70 extends from the second spring section 66.

[0031] A first lever 72 extends orthogonally from the end of the first spring section 64 and the first locking bolt 68. A second lever 74 extends orthogonally from the second spring section 66 and the second locking bolt 70. Each lever can be of a variety of different shapes, including shapes molded to receive a thumb or other finger more readily. The levers 72 and 74 can further include, e.g., a gripping rubber surface, or a padded foam surface, to enhance the gripability of the levers and prevent unwanted slippage of a user's hand or fingers. There can also be alternative structures that serve as levers or grips, such as a finger hole 73 and 75 into which a finger can be inserted to compress the spring 16 (see FIG. 4B).

[0032] The spring sections 64 and 66 can take the form of a number of different spring shapes as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Likewise, the first and second locking bolts 68 and 70 can be of a variety of different shapes, such as rectangular, square, cubical, cylindrical, and the like, so long as they fit through the bolt slots 46 and 48 accordingly, and lock appropriately within the bolt receiver 12.

[0033]FIG. 5 illustrates the spring 16 mounted within the spring chamber 40 of the spring casing 14. The first lever 72 and the second lever 74 are compressible towards each other to retract each of the first locking bolt 68 and the second locking bolt 70 through the first bolt slot 46 and second bolt slot 48 accordingly. The ledge 42 of the spring casing 14 keeps the first and second locking bolts 68 and 70 aligned within the spring casing 14 and prevents the locking bolts 68 and 70 from popping out of the spring casing 14 as they slide through the bolt slots 46 and 48.

[0034]FIG. 6 illustrates the retention mechanism 10 mounted to a computer hardware rack 76. Installation of this configuration can occur as follows. The bolt receiver 12 first mounts to the computer hardware rack 76 by the use of the fasteners 22. The component 18 then mounts to the spring casing 14 at the first arm 50 and the second arm 52 (see FIG. 3) of the spring casing 14. The spring 16 is previously inserted and mounted within the spring casing 14.

[0035] The particular component 18 illustrated comprises a generally “T” shaped end panel. The component 18 extends further into the computer hardware rack 76, but is not shown in FIG. 6. The user slides the component 18 into the rack 76, or if there are no supporting slide channels, or other supports, simply places the body of the component into the mounting cavity of the rack 76. The component 18 can plug into any plugs required that can be located within the rack 76.

[0036] The user then places the end of the component 18 into a retention clip 78 at a distal end from the bolt receiver 12. The retention clip 78 holds one side of the component 18, and acts as a pivot point for the installation into the retention mechanism 10. The retention clip 78 also acts to support the end of the component 18 clipped thereto, once installed. Alternatively, the component 18 can snap into the retention clip 78 simultaneous with, or after, the installation of the locking bolt 68 or 70 into the bolt receiver 12.

[0037] The user pinches the first lever 72 and the second lever 74 towards one another to retract the first locking bolt 68 and the second locking bolt 70 within the bolt slot 46 and 48 of the spring casing 14, while simultaneously pivoting the entire assembly at the hinge of the retention clip 78 toward the bolt receiver until each of the first and second locking bolts 68 and 70 clear the first and second ramps 28 and 30 of the bolt receiver 12. At such time, the user releases the first lever 72 and the second lever 74 to extend each of the first locking bolt 68 and the second locking bolt 70 against the first arm 24 and the second arm 26 of the bolt receiver 12. The edges of each locking bolt 68 and 70 engage with the ramps 28 and 30, such that the ramps act to frictionally engage with the locking bolts 68 and 70 to maintain the locking bolts 68 and 70, and thus the entire spring casing 14 and the component 18 mounted thereto, locked in place within the computer hardware rack 76.

[0038] Alternatively, if the user cannot pinch the first and second levers 72 and 74 during installation, the bevel tip 32 and 34 of the bolt receiver 12 will act to retract each of the first and second locking bolts 68 and 70 as the user presses the entire assembly against the bolt receiver 12. The user, to clarify, need only place the distal end of the component 18 into the retention clip 78, and pivot the component 18 already mounted to the spring casing 14 toward the bolt receiver 12. Each of the locking bolts 68 and 70, in their extended positions as positioned by the spring 16, engage each bolt receiver arm 24 and 26 at the beveled tips 32 and 34. The user subsequently pushes on the spring casing 14, which causes the bolts 68 and 70 to slide down the surface of each beveled tip 32 and 34, compressing the spring 16 and retracting the locking bolts 68 and 70. As the user continues pushing, the ends of the locking bolts 68 and 70 eventually pass the edge of the beveled tips 32 and 34, and snap into place within each ramp 28 and 30.

[0039] The user removes the component 18 by first pinching the first and second levers 72 and 74 toward one another to retract each of the first and second locking bolts 68 and 70. Once the first and second locking bolts 68 and 70 have cleared the first and second ramps 28 and 30 of the bolt receiver 12, the user can pivot out the component 18 on the hinge of the retention clip 78, removing the component from the computer hardware rack 76.

[0040] An alternative arrangement can include the use of a separate mechanism to reach inside the computer hardware rack 76 and grasp the levers 72 and 74 to remotely compress the levers 72 and 74 and grip the component 18 for installation or removal.

[0041] The pushing of the spring casing 14 and/or compression of the levers 72 and 74 during installation of the component 18, and the subsequent compression of the levers 72 and 74 during removal of the component, are all that is required to install or remove the component. The present invention advantageously avoids the requirement of threaded screws or other fasteners for securing a component within a computer hardware rack. The user additionally can compress the levers 72 and 74 with only one hand while simultaneously removing or installing the component 18 with the same hand. This feature makes it possible to install and remove components located deep within a particular computer hardware rack system, or other difficult to reach area, and properly secure the components in place.

[0042] Numerous modifications and alternative embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the invention. Details of the structure may vary substantially without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and exclusive use of all modifications that come within the scope of the appended claims is reserved. It is intended that the invention be limited only to the extent required by the appended claims and the applicable rules of law. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A component retention mechanism, comprising: a bolt receiver; a spring casing coupled to said component; and a spring assembly having a first end and a second end, said spring mounted within said spring casing; wherein at least one of said first and second ends engages with said bolt receiver to couple said spring casing to said bolt receiver.
 2. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, further comprising at least one lever provided on at least one of said first and second ends of said spring.
 3. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, further comprising at least one finger hole provided on at least one of said first and second ends of said spring.
 4. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring assembly comprises a first locking bolt portion extending from said first end and a second locking bolt extending from said second end.
 5. The component retention mechanism of claim 2, further comprising a first lever integral with said first end of said spring assembly and a second lever integral with said second end of said spring assembly, said first and second levers enabling spring compression.
 6. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said bolt receiver comprises at least one support arm having a ramp for engaging said locking bolt when in a locked position.
 7. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said bolt receiver comprises a first support arm having a first ramp and a second support arm having a second ramp, said first and second ramps for engaging with a first and second locking bolt.
 8. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said bolt receiver comprises at least one support arm having a beveled tip for receiving said at least one locking bolt.
 9. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said spring casing slidably supports said spring and said at least one locking bolt.
 10. The component retention mechanism of claim 1, wherein said component retention mechanism is made of plastic.
 11. A computer hardware rack structure, comprising: at least one component retention mechanism for mounting and locking components in place within said rack structure, said component retention mechanism comprising: a bolt receiver mounted to said rack structure; a spring casing mounted to said at least one component; and a spring having a first end and a second end, said spring mounted within said spring casing; at least one locking bolt extending from one of said first and second ends of said spring; wherein said locking bolt engages with said bolt receiver to retain said component in said base structure.
 12. The rack structure of claim 11, further comprising at least one lever coupled with said spring and said at least one locking bolt.
 13. The rack structure of claim 11, further comprising at least one finger hole integral with said print and said at least one locking bolt.
 14. The rack structure of claim 11, wherein said bolt receiver comprises at least one support arm having a ramp for engaging said locking bolt when in a locked position.
 15. The rack structure of claim 14, wherein said support arm further comprises a beveled tip for receiving said locking bolt.
 16. The rack structure of claim 14, wherein said component retention mechanism is made of plastic.
 17. A method of mounting a component in a base structure, comprising the steps of: pinching at least one lever in a spring casing to compress at least one spring and retract at least one locking bolt; placing said component having a spring casing mounted thereto into said base structure; and releasing said at least one lever in said spring casing to expand said spring and extend said at least one locking bolt to engage with a bolt receiver locking said component in place.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said pinching step comprises pinching two levers to compress two springs and retract two locking bolts.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said releasing step comprises releasing said two levers to expand said two springs and extend said two locking bolts to engage with said bolt receiver.
 20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said placing step comprises first inserting one end of said component into a retention clip.
 21. The method according to claim 17, wherein said placing step comprises substantially simultaneously snapping said component into a retention clip and said bolt receiver.
 22. The method according to claim 17, wherein said placing step comprises snapping aid component into said retention clip after completing said releasing step. 